We often rely on the word “very”to emphasize adjectives in writing and speech. But overuse of "very" can make your writing repetitive and less impactful. Instead of relying on it, you can choose from an array of 150 more descriptive, precise, and powerful wordsthat will make your language more vivid, engaging, and clear.
In this guide, we’ll show you 150 alternativesfor replacing “very”in different contexts, ranging from emotions to size, speed, appearance, and more.
What’s Wrong With “Very”?
“Very” is a popular word in the English language because it’s so versatile. As an adverb, it modifies adjectives(or other adverbs) by adding intensity. For example:
It was a very fun party.
However, while "very" is easy to use, it’s often overused, which can weaken your writing. Repetitive use of "very" makes sentences sound repetitive and lazy, and it can also make it harder for readers to visualize what you’re describing.
Take a look at the following example:
It was a very fun party. You can tell Doris was very focused and committed to the theme because the decorations were very well-done. Not only was the food very tasty, too, but the drinks were very good, and the music was very fun.
Notice how constantly using the word "very" disrupts the flow of the writing and makes it sound clunky? It dilutes the meaning and diminishes the impact of your descriptions.
Luckily, the English language offers a wealth of synonymsthat can add depth and variety to your writing. Below, we will explore a comprehensive list of "very" alternatives that can help you elevate your writing and make it more engaging.
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Emotions
1. Very Angry: Enraged, Furious, Irate, Livid, Outraged, Incensed, Seething, Fuming
2. Very Happy: Ecstatic, Overjoyed, Thrilled, Elated, Delighted, Joyful, Gleeful, Exhilarated
3. Very Sad: Sorrowful, Mournful, Dejected, Heartbroken, Grief-stricken, Despondent
4. Very Scared: Petrified, Terrified, Apprehensive, Alarmed, Horrified, Startled
5. Very Excited: Elated, Enthusiastic, Overjoyed, Thrilled, Eager, Fervent
6. Very Nervous: Anxious, Apprehensive, Uneasy, Tense, Restless
7. Very Confused: Bewildered, Perplexed, Baffled, Disoriented, Puzzled, Stumped
8. Very Calm: Serene, Placid, Tranquil, Peaceful, Composed, Collected
9. Very Angry: Wrathful, Infuriated, Vexed, Irked, Agitated, Exasperated
10. Very Embarrassed: Mortified, Ashamed, Humiliated, Abashed, Red-faced, Flustered
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Size And Scale
11. Very Big: Colossal, Enormous, Immense, Gigantic, Huge, Massive, Gargantuan, Titanic
12. Very Small: Tiny, Minuscule, Petite, Microscopic, Diminutive, Teeny
13. Very Tall: Towering, Soaring, Lofty, Gigantic, Tallest
14. Very Short: Brief, Short-lived, Fleeting, Sudden, Minute, Petite
15. Very Large: Monumental, Mammoth, Vast, Sprawling, Extensive
16. Very Tiny: Dinky, Pint-sized, Pocket-sized, Minute
17. Very Heavy: Weighty, Burdensome, Hefty, Cumbersome
18. Very Light: Weightless, Airy, Feathery, Buoyant
19. Very Hot: Scorching, Blazing, Sweltering, Boiling, Fiery
20. Very Cold: Freezing, Frosty, Icy, Chilly, Glacial
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Speed And Motion
21. Very Fast: Rapid, Quick, Speedy, Swift, Lightning-fast, Expeditious
22. Very Slow: Sluggish, Languid, Leisurely, Crawling, Turtle-like
23. Very Quick: Instantaneous, Fast, Prompt, Swift
24. Very Fast Car: Lightning-fast, High-speed, Turbocharged
25. Very Slow Movement: Languorous, Dawdling, Slothful, Unhurried
26. Very Late: Tardy, Delayed, Behind schedule
27. Very Early: Pre-dawn, Premature, Early-bird
28. Very Rapid: Immediate, Instantaneous, Swift
29. Very Accelerated: Expedited, Hasty, Rushed
30. Very Smooth: Sleek, Fluid, Gliding, Effortless
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Strength And Power
31. Very Strong: Mighty, Robust, Powerful, Forceful, Unyielding
32. Very Weak: Feeble, Frail, Delicate, Infirm, Powerless
33. Very Hard: Rigid, Firm, Solid, Stiff
34. Very Powerful: Potent, Dominant, Formidable, Overbearing
35. Very Strong Wind: Gale-force, Tempestuous, Blustery
36. Very Tough: Rugged, Sturdy, Resilient, Indestructible
37. Very Durable: Long-lasting, Tough, Hard-wearing, Resilient
38. Very Mighty: Herculean, Indomitable, Stalwart, Invincible
39. Very Sharp: Keen, Acute, Razor-sharp, Penetrating
40. Very Weak: Fragile, Brittle, Languid, Feeble
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Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Describing Intelligence
41. Very Smart: Brilliant, Astute, Knowledgeable, Sharp, Insightful
42. Very Dumb: Ignorant, Oblivious, Clueless, Unaware, Ill-informed
43. Very Clever: Ingenious, Quick-witted, Resourceful, Brilliant
44. Very Intelligent: Perceptive, Sagacious, Enlightened, Scholarly
45. Very Stupid: Moronic, Silly, Foolish, Absurd, Idiotic
46. Very Wise: Sagacious, Insightful, Prudent, Discerning
47. Very Bright: Radiant, Intelligent, Sharp, Cerebral
48. Very Confident: Assured, Certain, Self-assured, Poised
49. Very Uncertain: Doubtful, Hesitant, Unclear, Unsure
50. Very Experienced: Veteran, Seasoned, Knowledgeable, Skilled
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Appearance
51. Very Beautiful: Stunning, Gorgeous, Exquisite, Ravishing, Flawless
52. Very Ugly: Grotesque, Horrible, Hideous, Repulsive, Unsightly
53. Very Pretty: Lovely, Attractive, Charming, Elegant
54. Very Handsome: Striking, Good-looking, Dashing, Rugged
55. Very Clean: Spotless, Immaculate, Pristine, Gleaming
56. Very Messy: Disordered, Chaotic, Cluttered, Untidy
57. Very Tall: Towering, Lofty, Sky-scraping
58. Very Fat: Obese, Chubby, Rotund, Corpulent
59. Very Thin: Gaunt, Lanky, Slim, Lean
60. Very Shiny: Gleaming, Lustrous, Polished, Sparkling
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Describing Sound
61. Very Loud: Deafening, Piercing, Thunderous, Ear-splitting, Blaring
62. Very Quiet: Hushed, Muffled, Faint, Barely Audible
63. Very Noisy: Rambunctious, Rowdy, Clamorous, Boisterous
64. Very High-Pitched: Shrill, Screeching, Squeaky
65. Very Deep Sound: Resonant, Boom, Sonorous, Rich
66. Very Silent: Still, Muted, Hushed, Calm
67. Very Music: Melodic, Harmonious, Soothing, Euphonic
68. Very Disruptive Noise: Disturbing, Jarring, Annoying, Raucous
69. Very Quiet Voice: Whispered, Muffled, Soft-spoken
70. Very Loud Sound: Deafening, Explosive, Roaring, Blasting
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Temperature And Climate
71. Very Hot: Scorching, Boiling, Sweltering, Blazing, Fiery
72. Very Cold: Freezing, Frosty, Icy, Glacial
73. Very Warm: Balmy, Toasty, Mild
74. Very Cool: Refreshing, Breezy, Crisp
75. Very Wet: Torrential, Pouring, Saturated, Soggy
76. Very Dry: Arid, Parched, Dehydrated
77. Very Humid: Muggy, Steamy, Sultry
78. Very Stormy: Tempestuous, Thunderous, Torrential
79. Very Windy: Blustery, Gale-force, Breezy
80. Very Chilly: Icy, Nippy, Cold, Crisp
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Quantity
81. Very Many: Countless, Numerous, Innumerable, Myriad, Abundant
82. Very Few: Scant, Scarce, Limited, Sparse
83. Very Much: Tremendously, Immensely, Greatly, Significantly, Substantially
84. Very Little: Tiny, Minuscule, Negligible, Insignificant
85. Very Large Quantity: Copious, Galore, Plentiful, Overflowing
86. Very Small Quantity: Meager, Paltry, Insufficient, Sparse
87. Very Abundant: Copious, Profuse, Overflowing, Bountiful
88. Very Excessive: Overabundant, Surplus, Superfluous, Lavish
89. Very Few People: Handful, Few, Limited, Sparse
90. Very Many People: Multitude, Army, Hordes, Legion, Masses
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Time And Duration
91. Very Fast: Rapid, Instant, Swift, Quick, Speedy
92. Very Slow: Languid, Prolonged, Leisurely, Drawn-out
93. Very Long: Endless, Never-ending, Infinite, Protracted
94. Very Short: Brief, Fleeting, Momentary, Transient
95. Very Early: Pre-dawn, First thing, Crack of dawn
96. Very Late: Tardy, Behind schedule, Delayed, Overdue
97. Very Recently: Just, Lately, Newly, Freshly
98. Very Soon: Imminent, Approaching, Pending, Upcoming
99. Very Much Later: Eventually, In the future, Down the line, Ultimately
100. Very Often: Frequently, Regularly, Repeatedly, Habitually
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Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Health And Condition
101. Very Sick: Ill, Unwell, Ailing, Debilitated, Bedridden
102. Very Healthy: Vigorous, Strong, Fit, Robust, Well
103. Very Tired: Exhausted, Fatigued, Weary, Drained, Burned out
104. Very Sleepy: Drowsy, Dozy, Lethargic, Sluggish
105. Very Active: Energetic, Lively, Vigorous, Dynamic
106. Very Weak: Frail, Fragile, Feeble, Languid
107. Very Strong: Sturdy, Resilient, Robust, Tough
108. Very Ill: Gravely ill, Seriously ill, Ailing, Unwell
109. Very Healthy: Flourishing, Thriving, In top condition
110. Very Injured: Wounded, Maimed, Disabled, Hurt, Crippled
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Intelligence And Skill
111. Very Smart: Clever, Brilliant, Sharp, Astute, Perceptive
112. Very Dumb: Dull, Clueless, Uninformed, Unaware
113. Very Skilled: Proficient, Competent, Expert, Masterful, Accomplished
114. Very Talented: Gifted, Capable, Skilled, Skilled, Artistic
115. Very Dumb: Ignorant, Moronic, Thick, Unintelligent
116. Very Clever: Ingenious, Sharp, Astute, Quick-witted
117. Very Good at Something: Accomplished, Adept, Skilled, Proficient
118. Very Bad at Something: Incompetent, Inept, Unskilled, Ineffective
119. Very Experienced: Veteran, Seasoned, Knowledgeable, Skilled
120. Very Intelligent: Intellectual, Brainy, Sage, Enlightened
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Opinion And Preference
121. Very Important: Crucial, Essential, Vital, Significant, Key
122. Very Unimportant: Trivial, Insignificant, Inconsequential, Unimportant
123. Very Good: Excellent, Superb, Outstanding, Exceptional
124. Very Bad: Awful, Terrible, Atrocious, Horrible, Dreadful
125. Very Interesting: Fascinating, Engrossing, Captivating, Intriguing
126. Very Boring: Monotonous, Tedious, Dull, Drab
127. Very Expensive: Costly, Pricey, Exorbitant, Steep
128. Very Cheap: Inexpensive, Low-cost, Budget, Bargain
129. Very Strange: Bizarre, Odd, Unusual, Peculiar, Weird
130. Very Simple: Easy, Straightforward, Basic, Clear
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Describing Movement And Actions
131. Very Quick: Instant, Fast, Swift, Immediate, Speedy
132. Very Slow: Sluggish, Languid, Drawn-out, Tedious
133. Very Fast Movement: Rapid, Brisk, Swift, Lightning
134. Very Slow Movement: Languorous, Slothful, Crawl, Plodding
135. Very Heavy Movement: Cumbersome, Clumsy, Bulky, Stiff
136. Very Graceful: Elegant, Smooth, Fluid, Poised
137. Very Careful: Cautious, Prudent, Meticulous, Scrupulous
138. Very Clumsy: Awkward, Gawky, Ungainly, Uncoordinated
139. Very Quick Action: Swift, Instantaneous, Immediate, Rapid
140. Very Relaxed: Calm, Laid-back, Chill, Unruffled
Words To Use Instead Of "Very" For Appearance And Texture
141. Very Soft: Plush, Velvety, Silky, Cushioned
142. Very Rough: Rugged, Harsh, Coarse, Textured
143. Very Smooth: Sleek, Polished, Shiny, Glossy
144. Very Hard: Stiff, Rigid, Solid, Tough
145. Very Thin: Slender, Frail, Delicate, Gossamer
146. Very Thick: Dense, Solid, Chunky, Hefty
147. Very Wet: Saturated, Drenched, Soaked, Sopping
148. Very Dry: Arid, Parched, Dehydrated, Cracked
149. Very Clean: Pristine, Spotless, Immaculate, Flawless
150. Very Messy: Untidy, Disorganized, Chaotic, Cluttered
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why Should I Avoid Using "very" In My Writing?
Using “very” can make your writing weak or repetitive. It’s often better to use more specific, descriptive words that convey exactly what you mean, creating a stronger impact on the reader.
What’s The Best Way To Practice Using These Synonyms?
Start by identifying areas in your writing where you use "very". Replace it with more specific words, ensuring that the word fits the context. The more you practice, the more natural it will feel.
How Can I Make Sure I’m Not Overusing These New Words?
While variety is important, it’s also crucial not to overwhelm the reader with overly complex or unusual words. Balance the use of these synonyms and make sure they’re context-appropriate.
Can I Use These Alternatives In Speech As Well?
Absolutely! Replacing "very"with more specific alternatives can elevate both your written and spoken language, making you sound more articulate and engaging.
Conclusion
As you can see, there’s a vast range of 150 powerful wordsthat can help you replace the overused “very”. By incorporating these alternatives into your writing, you will enhance the clarity, depth, and impact of your work, making your words more descriptive and engaging.
Remember, using strong, descriptive language not only helps to improve your writing but also helps you to communicate more effectively and persuasively. Whether you are writing an essay, blog post, or just having a conversation, these words will bring precision and creativity to your language.